Pachyphytum plant named &#39;Draco&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Pachyphytum  plant named ‘Draco’ that is characterized by oblanceolate shaped leaves that curve upward, leaves that are resistant to dropping and grey-green leaves suffused with purple toward the margins.

Botanical classification: Pachyphytum hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Draco’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPachyphytum plant botanically known as Pachyphytum hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Draco’.

‘Draco’ originated from the crossing of the female or seed parent anunnamed proprietary Pachyphytum bracteosum cultivar and the male orpollen parent an unnamed proprietary Pachyphytum hookeri cultivar. Thecrossing was conducted in 2009 in Kudelstaart, Netherlands. Theresulting seeds were subsequently planted and grown. The cultivar‘Draco’ was selected by the inventor in 2010 in a controlled environmentas a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a cultivatedarea of Kudelstaart, Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Draco’ first occurred by leafcuttings in 2010 in Kudelstaart, Netherlands. Since that time, undercareful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar havebeen uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newPachyphytum cultivar ‘Draco’. These traits in combination distinguish‘Draco’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existingvarieties of Pachyphytum known by the inventor.

1. Pachyphytum ‘Draco’ exhibits oblanceolate shaped leaves that curveupward.

2. Pachyphytum ‘Draco’ exhibits leaves that are resistant to dropping.

3. Pachyphytum ‘Draco’ exhibits grey-green leaves suffused with purpletoward the margins.

The closest comparison cultivars are Echeveria ‘Lila Cina’ (notpatented) and the co-pending application cultivar Pachyphytum ‘Corvus’.

‘Draco’ is distinguishable from ‘Lila Cina’ by the followingcharacteristics:

1. Pachyphytum ‘Draco’ exhibits narrower leaves than the leaves of ‘LilaCina’.

2. Pachyphytum ‘Draco’ exhibits leaves that curve upward more than theleaves of ‘Lila Cina’.

3. Pachyphytum ‘Draco’ exhibits grey-green leaves suffused with purpletoward the margins. The leaves of ‘Lila Cina’ are grey.

‘Draco’ is distinguishable from ‘Corvus’ by the followingcharacteristics:

1. Pachyphytum ‘Draco’ exhibits longer leaves than the leaves of‘Corvus’.

2. Pachyphytum ‘Draco’ exhibits grey-green leaves suffused with purpletoward the margins. The leaves of ‘Corvus’ are blue-green.

‘Draco’ is distinguishable from the female parent plant, an unnamedproprietary Pachyphytum bracteosum cultivar, by the followingcharacteristics:

1. Pachyphytum ‘Draco’ exhibits a larger overall size than the femaleparent plant.

2. The leaves of ‘Draco’ are more firmly attached to the plant. Theleaves of the female parent plant frequently drop off

‘Draco’ is distinguishable from the male parent plant parent plant, anunnamed proprietary Pachyphytum hookeri cultivar, by the followingcharacteristics:

1. The leaves of ‘Draco’ are wider than the leaves of the male parentplant.

2. The leaves of ‘Draco’ are flatter than the leaves of the male parentplant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofPachyphytum ‘Draco’. The photograph shows an overall view of a 12 monthold plant. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Pachyphytum cultivarnamed ‘Draco’. Data was collected in Kudelstaart, Netherlands from 12month old plants grown in a glass greenhouse in 10.5 cm. diametercontainers. The time of year was April and the temperature range was18-20 degrees Centigrade during the day and 14-16 degrees Centigrade atnight. The light level was natural light level. No photoperiodictreatments or growth retards were used. Color determinations are inaccordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The growing requirements are similar to thespecies. ‘Draco’ has not been tested under all possible conditions andphenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance ingenotype.

-   Botanical classification: Pachyphytum hybrida ‘Draco’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Parentage: ‘Draco’ is a hybrid of the female parent an unnamed    proprietary Pachyphytum bracteosum cultivar and the male or pollen    parent an unnamed proprietary Pachyphytum hookeri cultivar.-   Plant type: Pot plant.-   Plant shape: Basal rosette.-   Suitable container size: 7 cm. pots or larger.-   Plant height: 8.9 cm.-   Plant width: 12.5 cm.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Low temperature tolerance: 10° Centigrade.-   High temperature tolerance: 40° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Leaf cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots (summer): 14 days at 20° C.-   Time to initiate roots (winter): 21 days at 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (summer): 120 days at 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (winter): 150 days at 20° C.-   Growth rate: Leaves grown approximately 0.5 cm. per month.-   Crop time: Approximately 12 months in Kudelstaart, Netherlands.-   Root system: Fibrous.-   Root color: N155.-   Plant fragrance: None.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Basal rosette.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per plant.—Average 37.        -   Leaf shape.—Oblanceolate, moderately concave, slightly            carinate.        -   Leaf apex.—Broad short apiculate.        -   Leaf base.—Broad cuneate.        -   Leaf dimensions.—6.3 cm. in length and 2.5 cm. in width.        -   Leaf thickness.—0.9 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous both surfaces, succulent.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Venation pattern.—None visible.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—191A, suffused with N77C            toward margins, base 145D, covered by waxy layer 188B.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—Between 191A and 194A,            suffused with N77C toward margins, base 145D, covered by            waxy layer 188B.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—189A, covered by waxy            layer 188B.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—Between 148B and 189A,            covered by waxy layer 188B.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.-   Flower: No flowers have been observed to date.-   Fruit and seed: Fruit or seed production has been observed to date.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Pachyphytum plant named ‘Draco’ asdescribed and illustrated.